Barbed fence



Z Z //A M. S. CHAPMAN.-

BARBED FENCE.

"Patented Sept. 13, 1881 I JV V'EIV' TO B B hid fitter-ways W Ens Flmloinhosmv (No Model.)

WITNESSES $66 flu gZz/Mfi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVILLE S. CHAPMAN, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

BARBED FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,866, dated September 13, 1881.

I Application filed July 19,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVILLE S. CHAPMAN, of Elkhart,in the county of Elkhart and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barbed Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in barbed fences, and has for its object to construct a fence that will be more visible to stock than the usual wire barbed fences, and thereby prevent the stock from running blindly against it and causing injury to themselves from the barbs, and also be durable, inexpensive, simple in construction, and easy of transportation.

To this end the invention consists in certain improvements in the construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figurel isaperspective view of my im proved fence; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view, taken through one ofthe posts with the adjoiningrails and staples; Fig. 3, a detail view, showing the manner of connecting orjoining the rails, and Fig. 4 a detail view of one of the spurred bradbarbs.

Oorresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring by letter to the drawings hereto annexed, A designates the vertical upright posts, which are broader at the bottom or base than at the top, and are mounted on a crosspiece, B, which rests on the ground. The sides of the post A, some distance above the ground, are provided with bales .or staples O O, as are also the sides of the cross-pieces B, near the ends thereof, through which staples are passed diagonal braces D, which are then driven into the ground, thus securing the post firmly in an upright position.

E designates the horizontal wooden fencein separate pointed wire pieces, the ends thereof that enter the wood being roughened to prevent easy detachment from the rail, or doublepointed wire pieces driven entirely through the rail and protruding on each side, or preferably, as shown in the drawings, with the upper and lower edges barbed with pointed pieces of wire F, and the side edges with the flat brad or barb G, (shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings,) this flat barb being notched on each side to form spurs or projections a a before being driven into the wood, to prevent the barb from being easily withdrawn or becoming detached and falling out. The rails are secured to the post by being embedded or restingin shaped notches H in the sides of the post, to take in one-half of the rail, a staple or loop of wire, I, being bent around the latter and driven into the post. The ends of the rails are beveled, J, and when joined together overlap each other, thus forming a neat and smooth joint. Ordinarily they are joined at their junction with the post, when the securing-staples thereon serve also to keep the ends of the rails together; but it is sometimes convenient tojoin them at other points between the posts, in which case I provide one beveled end with an upward projecting barb, K, which enters the beveled end of the other rail, and in conjunction with a collar,L, which is slipped over the junction of the rails, prevents lateral displacement.

By reference to the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

My fence is simple in construction, durable, not liable to get out of order, and easy to repair, and the barbs on the side, or even the top or bottom edges, may be omitted without materially changing the character of my invention, the sharp edges of the rails themselves serving the purpose of a barb; or, on the other hand, the edges and sides of the posts may be barbed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 10 my own I have hereto aflixerl my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MELVILLE S. CHAPMAN.

Witnesses:

D. N. LETB, CHAS. S. BURHAUS. 

